A WORD FROM DOUG

I began drawing and painting at a very young age. At the age of 13, I entered my first art show with a pencil drawing of a young girl playing a lute and received an honorable mention.  Since then, I have been in many shows and have fortunately won many awards.

I have made it my art practice to study with art mentors.  These mentors have helped me enhance my skills and deepen my insights towards my art.  Mentoring began with my Uncle Lester Gallagher at a young age.  Lester was a well known oil painter in northern Indiana who specialized in painting the dunes of Lake Michigan.  Since then, I have studied in oils, watercolor and for the last 30 years in pastel.  During the last 13 years, I have studied with Albert Handell, who is well known in the art world and a master painter in both oils and pastels.  Albert is a master at capturing the moment and amazing beauty of nature. I admire his work and am pleased to say Albert is my good friend.  Mentors like Albert have encouraged my own artistic vision and helped me to realize my dreams. 

Plein Air painting has become my main art interest and I teach a series of classes to other artists to promote this unique method of painting. Being outdoors allows me to experience the beauty of nature directly.  My paintings are enhanced by the sights, sounds and smells of the site.  As I walk through a site, I take it in and wait for a feeling of excitement and awe about something there.  It could be a view, a color, a subject or shape.  My painting focus is to capture this excitement. It is an all encompassing challenge and joy – a dialogue between me and the subject placed in two dimensional form.  I am pleased to share my art perspective with you.